By Another Way…

Posted on January 5, 2012 by fromtheheartofj

By Another Way…

image via trevwhite.wordpress.com

Another sign the Wise Men saw and followed was advice given through a dream.

To Go Another Way…

Perhaps the Wise Men after finding Him who their heart desired would have wanted to stay and continue to offer praise and homage, but they had responsibility to get back to.

image via kiwix.org

How easy it would have been to go back the path they had forged in the coming…

But we can never go back to the familiar, the old way, after meeting Christ.

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Our lives become the Other Way..

always new…exploring new territory…unkown to us whilst living in and of the world.

image via thenextweb.com

My Lord, may we be given the grace to see the signs and follow the direction you ask us to take, always docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in whatever way they may come. Heal us of any fear in pressing forward on the “other way” which is the new way, deeper in communion with You. Amen

Signs Seen and Followed…

Posted on January 4, 2012 by fromtheheartofj

image via joyousjewels.wordpress.com

The Sign of a Star…

Led Wise Men to search for a King.

To Leave behind their ways of the world…their parts of the world…

Onwards on their search.

image via stmary-dallas.org

Not the pretty picture of a pristine desert with camels carrying gifts and kings all in a neat tidy row.

The truth of the journey?

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Arduous..an exertion of will…across countryside of no roads or modern conveniences…extended travels far from the familiar…hopes mixed with doubts…

Where will this journey take us?

We are all “Wise Men” enroute in this life to find the True King, the True Ruler of our Hearts so that we may offer Him praise and homage with our lives.

For to offer true worship to Him who is our Creator, is sewn deeply within the fabric of who we are.

These Wise Men saw a sign that splashed light on their journey from the world to Christ.

What signs are in our lives?

image via andypagana.com

Are we following the signs that lead us to be people of praise and thanksgiving?

“Wise Men and Women” may we be given the grace to see the signs He leaves us daily and the courage and the perseverance to follow them home to Him.

“Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together.” Is 40:4-5

All Natural…No Preservative Self…

Posted on January 3, 2012 by fromtheheartofj

“Everyone who has this hope based on Him makes himself pure, as He is pure.”1 John3:3

image via divineexperience.org

To HOPE is to keep one’s eyes on the top of the cross….

image via shinefmafternoons.blogspot.com

while keeping vigil at the foot.

How good, gracious, and merciful is our God that by merely hoping…

Our eyes set on Him who is our HOPE…

We are made PURE.

To be PURE is to be all we are called to be…

no fakes, no masks, no pretense, no artificial flavors…

image via tetley.ca

100% pure, all natural, no additives, no preservatives.

By being in Your Presence Lord in prayer…

image via turnbacktoGod.com

which in itself is an act of HOPE…

We become more purely who we are…who we are meant to be.

New Year’s Prayer…

Posted on January 1, 2012 by fromtheheartofj

image via thundafunda.net

A New Year’s Prayer
May God make your year a happy one! Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart; Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making your life always pleasant, But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help. God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.
Anonymous

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Peter 1:3

Happy New Year!

The Power of A Voice…

Posted on December 31, 2011 by fromtheheartofj

One voice crying out in the desert led many to “prepare the way of the Lord”

image via scbpeoria.wordpress.com

One voice speaking “Yes” brought the Christ child into the world and allowed countless souls to give their lives to Christ.

image via icanflyjustnotup.blogspot.com

The combined voices of the shepherds, normally disregarded by society, brought many to their knees to praise and adore the newborn King.

image via blueeyedennis-siemore.blogspot.com

The voice of one woman of questionable reputation was the first to announce the news of the Ressurection to the Apostles.

image via womeninthebible.net

We all have a voice and a message to speak and live.

image via mttcreative.com

A voice as unique as the image of God we are created in.

A voice, infused by God’s grace, used to connect others divided by the spirit of the world.

Have you discovered your voice? Have you discovered what your words spoken and written should truly say?

image via electrovoice.com

Have you allowed God to transform your voice to be used as an instrument to unite souls?

May we be given the grace to see and believe like the shepherds and use our voices to praise and glorify God leading others to unite in belief.

Eric Whitacre, a composer, was struck by the power of one voice and this one voice led to the creation of what he calls a “happy accident”. A young woman sent a recording via the internet of her singing one of Eric’s composed songs. Eric was struck by the beauty of it and wondered what it would be like to unite other voices in this way. He sent out a request over the web and was flooded with responses. From these responses he chose 185 voice from 12 countries and created the first virtual choir. The video below will move you. The power of one voice that led to the creation of many voices all in angelic harmony praising God. All miles apart uniting in cyberspace to give glory to God. The song “Lux Aurumque” is Latin for gold and light. The song, a poem writted by Edward Esch, is sung in Latin. The English translation is:

Light

Warm and heavy as pure gold

And angels sing softly

to the newborn babe.

http://youtu.be/D7o7BrlbaDs

Let us end 2011 with voices of thanksgiving for all the blessings received. Let us welcome 2012 with voices of praise for all that is to come. And may we use our voices always for the praise of God’s glory in that unique way only we can speak.

Thank yous….

Posted on December 29, 2011 by fromtheheartofj

Thank you http://caddoveil.wordpress.com for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. If you haven’t visited Caddoveil’s blog please do so…she has a true gift of painting words and making them dance. Thank you caddoveil. I thoroughly enjoy your gifted writings.

So….now I must pass share ten things you may not know about me and pass this award on…

1. I like pelicans. They are a bit funny looking…almost like they received parts from several different birds. They also look a bit clumsy, but if you have ever seen a pelican glide on the wind they are incredibly graceful. It’s a lot like all of us. We are a bit clumsy but with God’s grace we can soar.

2. I really wish the whole world would slow down a bit and stop and smell the roses. Why do we have to be in such a hurry?

3. I enjoy painting…splashing vibrant colors on a canvas makes me smile inside and out.

4. If I’m wearing pink lipstick I am refusing to allow the chronic pain I live in get the best of me.

5. Shoes are terribly overrated…even though they are cute. Being barefoot is walking like a child.

6. Many make fun of my southern drawl…but maybe it’s everyone else who talks a bit differently!

7. I could sit and listen to people’s stories all day long…hidden in them it’s not so hard to see the hand of God.

8. A chiming clock makes a house a home.

9. Praise and worship can make a cloudy day sunny.

10. I strive to do all for the praise of God’s glory…it is for His glory I say thank you for this award.

Please check out the blogs below…I think you will enjoy them.

http://opencanvasjg.wordpress.com

http://revelationsinwriting.wordpress.com

http://warriorpoetwisdom.com

http://apronhead.wordpress.com

Thank you very much to http://poeticjourney251.wordpress.com and http://thewomanatthewell.wordpress.com for nominating me for the Candle Lighter Award. Please take a moment and visit both of these blogs. And congratulations to you both for receiving this honor. This award was created by Kate Kresse and you can read more about it at http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/the-candle-lighter-award/

This award (according to a reader of Kate’s site) belongs to those who believe, who always survive the day and those who never stop dreaming, for those who cannot quit, and for those who keep trying and if you have that you are entitled to this award.

For the praise and glory of His name, forever and ever, amen, I sincerely express thanksgiving to Kate, to poeticjourney, for the womanatthewell, and for all those who through their blogs keep their candles burning so others may come and find light in a world that in so many ways is in darkness.

I would like to pass on the Candle Lighter Award to

http://gracefullwomen.com

http://lightonmypath.wordpress.com

Through the Eyes of a Child…

Posted on December 21, 2011 by fromtheheartofj

Through the Eyes of a Child…

image via journal.phottix.com

The innocence…the joy…the expectancy…

image via 3story.org

The belief without question…the hope that doesn’t quit…the love that brightens…the heart that is pure.

image via adventure-learning-initiatives.com

May we Celebrate Christmas in child-like awe.

Please enjoy the video below. It will truly make you smile inside and out!

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“He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom.”

Matt 18:2-4

A Day Well Spent…

Posted on December 17, 2011 by fromtheheartofj

If you planted hope today in any hopeless heart…

image via realtor.com

If someone’s burden was lighter because you did your part…

image via angalmond.blogspot.com

If you caused a laugh that chased some tears away…

image via operationnice.com

If tonight your name is named when someone kneels to pray…

image via ehow.co.uk

Then your day has been well spent!

image via en.wikipedia.org

Blessings on your weekend,

Fromtheheartofj

Be Someone’s “Leaven in the Dough”…

Posted on December 16, 2011 by fromtheheartofj

How many times have we forgotten to say thank you? How many people have we forgotten to thank?

image via itstartswith.us

It may be someone living in our house, a dear friend, an acquaintance, or even a perfect stranger.

We may have been too distracted or too busy…

image via joyous-journeys.blogspot.com

or thought we deserved it or took it for granted.

But we missed a graced moment…an opportunity to begin a chain of contagious thanks.

image via camillestylles.com

There are many sweet souls in our midst that are doing “little things with great love”.

Do we notice them?

They are the “leaven in the dough” assisting the kingdom of God to rise.

image via beckyandthebeanstock.com

They are the “salt that has not lost its flavor”.

They come in all shapes and sizes…

image via pancakesandskateboards.blogspot.com

The spouse that brings home carry out when you’ve had a long day…the girl at the sandwich shop that always remembers you like extra onions on your sub…the neighbor who picks up your paper when you are travelling…the bagger at the grocery store who ties the tops of your bags so they are easier to carry…the housekeeper that takes the time to pull the dead leaves off your favorite but forgotten houseplant…the church memeber who often says, “I am praying for you.”…the volunteer who goes the extra mile filling in when others have slacked off…the gas attendant who reminds you to have a blessed day…the gentleman who always opens the door…the teenage child who sends a random I LOVE YOU MOM text…

image via meganandtimmy.com

It’s all those who stopped to smile and say hello…all those who let you pull in front of them in busy traffic.

It’s all those who have passed on a funny joke, left a “like” on your blog, or pointed out the beauty of the sunset or the clouds in the sky.

For all those little ones too numerous to count who have come in and through my life…

image via sunshineandstarlight.wordpress.com

I thank you!

And to show my thanks I lift you up to heaven and ask the Lord to shower you abundantly with His blessings of peace, love, and joy. May you know how much He loves you for being His hands and feet, His words and heart, in this world sometimes too busy to give thanks.

image via fgcbellflower.org

Little ones, God knows who you are…and in His eyes you are the great ones.

Will you join me in giving thanks for the “leaven in the dough”ers and the “salt that hasn’t lost their flavor”ers?

Christmas is about giving…let us thank these little, great ones…better yet let us become someone else’s “leaven in the dough” or “salt that hasn’t lost its flavor”.